In 1982 the search for a centrally located, lakefront campsite was begun by the Christian & Missionary Alliance Churches of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, but the story of Eagle Bay began many, many years before. Frank & Marion Adley owned nearly 23 acres of lakefront property on the southern shores of the Shuswap arm of Shuswap Lake.  From their living room window they could watch the sun set across the lake and they began a dream that one day the beaches near their home would be filled with the sounds of children swimming, laughing, and learning about a God who loves them.  Mr. Gordon Hirtle tells the story like this:

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"...the Pastor of the Kelowna Alliance church, Lloyd Draper, asked Gordon Hirtle, an engineer and realtor in his congregation, for assistance. Hirtle conducted a thorough boat exploration of suitable waterfront properties on the Shuswap Lake during the summer but produced no positive results. On September 16th, 1982, during a presentation to the Board of Regional District of Columbia-Shuswap, Mr. Hirtle noticed that the District Planner was wearing an open-necked shirt with a leather necklace holding a wooden cross. This visual demonstration of faith at a public meeting by a senior bureaucrat intrigued Hirtle and he requested an appointment following the formal meeting. The Planner, Anthony Pellett, proudly displayed the cross and announced that he was a delegate to the Anglican Church Synod in Victoria and leaving early the following morning.  When Hirtle asked if he knew of an Shuswap lakeshore properties whose owners may be interested in using as a Church camp, he paused, and then said 'there is a couple who own property near the westerly end of my District who may be interested!' On his return to Kelowna, Hirtle then wrote a letter to the couple - Mr. & Mrs. Frank Adley at Eagle Bay On September 28th Hirtle happened to be working in the field and that day went home for lunch - a rare occurrence! In his mailbox was a reply to his letter to Frank Adley which said 'your unexpected inquiry was an answer to our prayers!'

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On returning to his office Hirtle received a call from the Assistant Pastor, Ron Frentz, who chaired the Camp development committee.  Pastor Frentz said 'I have three committee members in my car and we are just leaving for Invermere to look at property on Lake Windermere for a possible campsite'. Hirtle replied 'I have the answer to our search, I'll see you in five minutes!'

The rest of the story is history - Frank Adley and his wife Marion sold 6.83 acres of their property (443 ft. of lakefrontage) for a fraction of the market value. In 1989 an anonymous donor contributed a significant sum of money to the CMAC, Pacific Division and designated for use in the Eagle Bay Camp. Hirtle then assisted Mr. & Mrs. Adley in the sale of their remaining acres (932 feet of lakefront) to CMAC in return for a life estate."

Today, Eagle Bay Camp occupies all of nearly 23 acres (including 1375 feet of beautiful lakefront) that was originally owned by the Adleys.  Frank and Marion lived in their home for as long as they were able to manage and although they have now both passed away, their dreams are heard in the echos of laughter throughout the property.